NC GreenPower Announces First Generation of Methane Gas for North Carolina’s Power Supply

A groundbreaking statewide initiative to develop new sources of renewable energy unveiled its first Western North Carolina site today, a project to generate electricity from landfill waste methane. Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue joined with local electric utility representatives and officials of NC GreenPower, a first-in-the-nation statewide initiative to improve North Carolina’s environment by encouraging the development of renewable energy sources, at the Buncombe County Landfill to announce the Buncombe County Landfill Gas Project, developed by Enerdyne Properties.

Buncombe landfill event photos

The Buncombe County Landfill Gas Project is designed to create electricity by tapping methane gas produced
at the landfill as a “green” energy source. The project
will allow for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions,
develop a renewable resource of energy that creates a safe and
cleaner landfill environment, and provide a stable and reliable
source of energy.

“Today’s announcement embodies North Carolina’s commitment to the three E’s: environment, economy and energy,” said Lt. Gov. Perdue. “We can and we must protect our environment by encouraging the development and use of renewable energy
resources,” continued Perdue. “We can choose to spend our energy dollars in state, for our state; and we can strive
to provide energy security for North Carolinians by investing in local, alternative energy sources.”

Bob Goodson, chairperson of the NC GreenPower Board of Directors, reported that the program has nearly 8,000 participants’ statewide, representing citizens and businesses that care about a cleaner environment. These participants currently subscribe to 22 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy generation each year, which in turn provides an annual offset in carbon dioxide equivalent to 3.5 million trees planted.

“Progess Energy is committed to exploring and investing in new energy sources and being part of their
development,” said Fred Day, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas. “We are especially proud to
be working with the Buncombe Landfill Gas Project, the largest supplier of renewable energy to date in the
NC GreenPower program.”

Buncombe County Landfill Gas Project

The “Old” Buncombe County Solid Waste Management Facility was opened in 1972 and remained open
until September 1997. It is owned and operated by the Buncombe County General Services Department.
The facility served the general Buncombe County area and its six municipalities: Asheville, Biltmore
Forest, Black Mountain, Montreat, Woodfin and Weaverville. It was among the 10 largest publicly-owned
municipal solid waste landfills in the state, accepting more than 100,000 tons per year.

The 300-acre facility was divided into 120 acres for landfill and 180 acres for green space. At closure, the landfill held 3.4 million tons of municipal solid waste in four cells. The Buncombe County Landfill Gas Project is currently beginning its second of three phases.

Phase I – Connect 2.5 mile pipeline from the county’s landfill to the Metropolitan Sewerage District (MSD). This phase utilized the gas in two 450 HP Waukesha Engines and in the fluidized bed of the sludge drying
facility. With efficiency improvements at MSD’s sludge dryer, additional gas has been made available for
use elsewhere.

Phase II – Serve MSD and create “new generation” capabilities for the NC Green Power program and build a “cogeneration” facility to tie-in a CHP hot water recovery unit to provide hot water to the new UNC
Asheville Arts Campus.

Phase III – Tie-in art applications in metal working, glass blowing and pottery to advance the
educational opportunities provided by low cost fuel to students in a formal curriculum.